Snap fastener attaching machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for attaching the components of a snap fastener to a material, wherein the snap fastener components are fed from strips in spaced relation to each other, are separately cut from the fed strips and are clamped together with the material therebetween by means of a ram and cooperating anvil; the feeding, cutting and clamping operations are performed in a particular sequence and are performed automatically upon initial operation of a control device.

PATENTED um 12mm 3,612,381 sum 10F 6 lNVENTOFL ERJCH A. SCHMIDT AT TORNEYS Unied States Patent inventor Erich A. Schmidt Lexington, Ky.

App]. No. 875,688

Filed Nov. 12, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 197i Assignee Textron, Inc.

Providence, R]. a part interest SNAP FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE 18Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 227/18,

227/95 lint. Cl A4lh 37/04 Field of Search 227/15, 16,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,939,145 6/1960 Lundeberg227/18 3,225,993 12/ 1965 Hall 227/18 Primary Examiner-Granville Y.Custer, Jr. AttorneyMeech and Field ABSTRACT: A machine for attachingthe components of a snap fastener to a material, wherein the snapfastener components are fed from strips in spaced relation to eachother, are separately cut from the fed strips and are clamped togetherwith the material therebetween by means of a ram and cooperating anvil;the feeding, cutting and clamping operations are performed in aparticular sequence and are performed automatically upon initialoperation of a control device.

PMENTEMQH 219?:

ESHEH 2 [IF 6 INVENTOR.

ERICH A. SCH M I DT AT TORN EYS PATENTEU nm 1 2 l9?! SHEET 3 OF 6 momINVENTOR.

ERICH A. SCHMIDT ATTORN EYS INVENTOR.

ERICH A. SCHMIDT ATTORN EYS PATENTEU GET 1 2 1911 SHEEF 5 BF 6 NONINVENTOR.

ERICH A. SCHMIDT ATTORN EYS PATENTEDUBHZIBYI 3,612,381 SHEET 80F 6INVENTOR.

ERICH A. SCHMIDT AT TO RN EYS SNAP FASTENER A'll'llAClllllNG MACHINE Thepresent invention relates to a machine for attaching snap fastenerelements to a material and, in particular to such a machine havingautomatic feeding, cutting and clamping operations.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional snap fastener attachingmachines for attaching plastic snap fastener elements to garments orfabric material take a wide variety of forms as exemplified by US Pat.Nos. 2,614,714, 2,735,567, 3,049,462 and 3,238,082. The known prior artmachines have not been capable of performing satisfactory clampingoperations with respect to snap fastener elements that are made ofplastic. For this reason some of the prior art machines have usedheating means to facilitate clinching or clamping of the snap fastenerelements; while not all of the conventional machines have used heatingmeans, of necessity they have required extremely complicated ram devicesoperating with such force that the assembled fastener was oftendeformed. Furthermore, all of the conventional machinery used forattaching snap fasteners have been extremely complicated in theirsequence of operation and have utilized a complex arrangement ofoperating components. The overall construction of the conventionalmachines employed a considerable amount of space or flow ares which hasbeen an impediment to automating the operation and which has been ahindrance in combining a plurality of machines for plural operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the presentinvention to construct a snap fastener attaching machine having arelatively slirn width and with all mechanisms operable therewithin in asimple manner with enough force to effect proper clamping of snapfastener elements.

The present invention is summarized in that a snap fastener attachingmachine is provided with clamping means adapted to clamp a pair offastener elements to a material, a cutting device for severing thefastener elements from strips, a feeding mechanism adapted to move thefastener elements into positions for operation by the cutting device andthe clamping means, the clamping means having a portion for operatingthe cutting device, a linkage connected to the feeding mechanism formoving the same, and a single actuator operatively connected to both thelinkage and the clamping means whereby feeding, cutting and clampingoperations are performed in response to actuation of the singleactuator.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize movements of botha cylinder and a piston shaft therein for effecting the feeding, cuttingand clamping operations of a snap fastener attaching machine.

The present invention has another object in that the cylinder movementfrom an actuated air cylinder is transmitted to a linkage for operatingthe feeding mechanism of a snap fastener attaching machine.

It is another object of this invention to operate the cutting device ofa snap fastener attaching machine in response to movement of theclamping ram of such machine.

Still another object of the present invention is to preload the anvil ofa snap fastener attaching machine.

This invention has another object in that a cutting device of a snapfastener attaching machine is actuated in response to movement of ananvil by the ram of such machine.

The present invention has another object in that an anvil arm ispivotally moved by the ram of a snap fastener attaching machine toterminate machine operation at the end of its cycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatically operatedsnap fastener attaching machine with a manual operator to terminate theoperation of the machine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anautomatically operated snap fastener attaching machine with a manualoperator to effect the cutting operation of such machine.

Another object of this invention is to adjust the clamping stroke of anautomatically operated snap fastener attaching machine in accordancewith the thickness of the material being utilized.

A further object of this invention is to provide a snap fastenerattaching machine with an initial operation causing one snap fastenerelement to pierce the material and with a subsequent operation causingthe one snap fastener element to be clinched to another snap fastenerelement.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snapfastener attaching machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a strip of fastener elements utilized inFIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial side view of details of FIG. 1;

FIG. d is an enlarged partial section of a detail of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the lower casing of FIG. I with asidewall removed to illustrate the operating mechanisms;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 6 showing the operatingmechanisms in their next step of operation;

FIG. is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 7 showing the operatingmechanisms in their next step of operation,

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 8 showing the operatingmechanisms in their next step of operation; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 9 showing the operatingmechanisms in their next step of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As is illustrated in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, a snap fastener attaching machine according to the presentinvention is indicated generally at 110, having a generally rectangularboxlike configuration formed of relatively thin upper and lower hollowcasings. The upper casing 12 has an open top wall to receive a pair ofreels M and 16 disposed in side-by-side relation to each other. The reel14 includes a continuous strip of plastic snap fastener backing elements18 joined together by severable links; similarly, the reel 16 includes acontinuous strip of plastic snap fastener socket elements 20 (or studelements) joined together by severable links. The plastic snap fastenersutilized in the present invention are of the type adapted to close theopening in material, such as an article of clothing. This type of snapfastener has a fastener backing element joined to a fastener socketelement with a piece of the material clamped therebetween. A mating partof the snap fastener is attached to a cooperating piece of the materialand includes the same fastener backing element 18 whereas the partclamped thereto would be a stud element.

The lower casing 22 of the machine is supported on a horizontal rod 24adjacent its front lower edge by any suitable means such as a clampingmount 26, while the lower rear edge of the casing 22 merely rests on anysuitable support such as a table top. The casing 22 includes a frontwall 28 which is bolted or otherwise secured to spaced sidewalls 30 and32; in order to illustrate the operating mechanism, the sidewall 32 isremoved from Fig. 3 and Figs. 6-10.

As is illustrated in Fig. 6 the operating mechanism for the machine 10includes an air cylinder 34 having a shaft 36 integral with andprojecting from the left end of cylinder 34 so that the cylinder 34 andshaft 36 will always move as a unit. The left end of cylinder 34 issupported on the sidewalls 30 and 32 by means of a trunnion block 38which encircles the shaft 36 and which has pivot pins 40 rotatablycarried in suitable apertures of the casing sidewalls 30 and 32.Adjacent its free end, the shaft 36 has a spring retainer block 42secured thereto; a coil spring 44 surrounds the shaft 36 and is mountedin compression between the trunnion block 38 and the retainer 42.

A piston shaft 46 projects from the right end of the cylinder 34 and issecured to a clamping clock 48 which is pivoted at 50 to the center of atoggle linkage. As is shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the pivot pin 50 defines apivotal connection with one end of the toggle link 52, the other end ofwhich is provided with an opening 54 which receives an eccentric pin 56mounted in aligned apertures in the sidewalls 30 and 32. The opening 54and the eccentric pin 56 cooperate with each other to define a supportfor the suspension of the right-hand of the piston shaft 46 as well asthe attachments thereto. An adjustment lever 60 is threaded to eccentricpin 56 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of pin 56 to adjust theaxis of the pin 56 and thereby selectively vary the stroke of the ramplunger; the lever 60 extends through the front wall 28 and is locked inplace by screws 62. Adjacent its inner end, the toggle link 52 has apivot pin 64 which carries one end of a lower toggle link 66; the otherend of the link 66 is pivotally connected to a pivot pin 68 for apurpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

As is shown in Fig. 6, the right end of the air cylinder 34 is securedto a bar 70 for unitary movement therewith. The bar 70 is disposedtransversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 34 and a secondbar 72 is fixed intermediate its end to the free end of bar 70; the bar72 is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the cylinder 34 andbecause of its rigid connection with the bar 70, the bar 72 will alwaysmove in the same direction as the cylinder 34. As will be explainedhereinafter, the cylinder 34 has an initial linear movement along itslongitudinal axis as well as being pivoted about the trunnion axis 40. Apivot pin 74 connects the free end of a lever 76 to the left end of thebar 72. The other end of lever 76 is connected by means of a pivot screw78 to the end of a lever arm 80 which is disposed generally transverselyto the lever and 76. The opposite end of the lever arm 80 is fixed to anintermediate portion of a lever 82 at that point where it is pivotallyconnected to the sidewall 30 by means of a pivot pin 84. As viewed inFig. 6, the upper end of lever 82 is connected to a return spring 86which is mounted in tension between lever 82 and a retainer 88 fixed tothe casing wall 30. A stop member 85 fixed to the casing sidewall 30 tolimit the pivot movement of the lever arm 80 in a downward direction.

The lower end of the lever 82 is pivotally connected to the end of alower feed arm 90, the forward end of which is slidably disposed in achannel box 92 which receives the strip of fastener elements 18 from aguide or chute 94 fixed to the casing sidewall 30 by brackets 96. Asbest seen in Fig. 3, the forward end of the feed arm 90 is provided withmultiple spaced apart grippers 98. The grippers 98-98 project upwardlybetween the connecting strips of fastener elements 18. The forward edgepushes the element to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 during pivotalmovement of the arm 90 and lever 82 about the pivot point 84. Althoughthe grippers 98-98 are only shown on one side of the fastener elements18, it is to be understood that similar spaced apart grippers 98-98 maybe placed on the opposite side of feed arm 90 to project upwardlytherefrom to engage the opposite side of the fastener elements 18. Aflat ribbon-type spring 100 engages the undersurface of the feed arm 90to normally bias the same in an upward direction.

The above described lever system is operated by the bar 72 to causeadvancement of the lower strip of fastener elements 18. The same bar 72is also utilized to advance the upper strip of fastener elements 20. Asis shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the right end of the bar 72 engages the endof an adjustment pin 102 transversely carried on one end of a lever 104which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by means of a pivot pin106 carried by the casing sidewall 30. The lower end of the lever 104 asviewed in Fig. 3 pivotally carries an upper feed arm 108 intermediateits ends. A coil spring 110 is mounted in tension between an upperportion of the lever 104 and one end of the upper feed arm 108 which isaccordingly biased normally in a clockwise direction. A stop member 111is fixed to the casing sidewall 30 to limit the counterclockwisemovement of the lever 104.

The forward end of the feed am 108 is slidably disposed in an upperchannel box 1 12 which receives the strip of fastener elements 20 from aguide or chute 114 fixed to the casing sidewall 30 by bracket 116. Theforward end of the feed arm 108 is provided with multiple spaced apartgrippers 118 on each side similar to the lower feed arm 90. Each of thegrippers 118 projects downwardly and has a forward edge.

A coil spring 120 is mounted in tension between a retainer 122 on thecasing wall 30 and an intermediate part of the lever 104, which part islocated between the pivot pin 106 and the lower end of lever 104 so thatthe lever 104 is normally biased in a counterclockwise direction aboutthe pivot pin 106. A second coil spring 124 is mounted in tensionbetween the retainer 122 and an intermediate portion of a manuallyoperated knife arm 126 which has one end mounted on a pivot 128 carriedby the casing wall 30 so that the arm 126 is normally biased in acounterclockwise direction about the pivot 128. As is shown in Fig. 3,the other end of the arm 126 extends through a slotted opening 130 inthe edge of easing front wall 28; the upper and lower edges of the slot130 define the limits of movement for the knife arm 126.

During manual operation of the knife arm 126, a knife blade 132 isabutted by such arm 126 and is depressed to sever the connectionsbetween the upper strip of fastener elements 20. A projecting lug 134 onthe side of the knife blade 132 is engaged by the end of a flat spring136 which causes the return of the knife blade in an upward directionupon release of the force applied thereto. The knife blade 132 isslidably mounted in a cover plate 138 (see Fig. 6) that is attached tothe casing sidewall 30 and cooperates therewith to define a channel forthe knife blade 132 as well as a channel for a plunger or ram 140.

The upper end of the ram 140 carries the pivot pin 68 so that the ram ispivotally connected to the link 66 of the toggle mechanism. A stopelement 142 projects upwardly beyond the pivot pin 68 and cooperateswith a stop 144 secured to the inner surface of the casing front wall28. An actuating plunger 146 for the knife blade 132 is also carried bythe upper portion of ram 140 for unitary movement therewith. The plunger146 is shown in Fig. 3 is disposed in spaced parallel relation to thelongitudinal axis of the ram 140 and it carries a compression coilspring 148 to absorb shock and to provide override compensation at theend of the ram stroke.

The lower end 150 of the ram 140 has a generally square configuration incross section so as to be slightly less in size than the cross sectionof the fastener element 20. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the ram end150 engages the upper surface of that fastener element 20 which has beensevered and which has been moved out of the channel box 112. Anysuitable spring means such as the spring strips 152 and 154, are mountedin the channel box 112 to engage the opposite sides of the severedfastener element 20 and retain it in position for engagement by the ramend 150.

During its downward movement, the ram end 150 moves the upper severedfastener element 20 toward the lower fastener element 18 which has beensevered from its strip and which is resting on the top surface of alower die or anvil 156. The anvil 156 is fixed on one end of an anvilarm 158 that is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin160 carried by the casing sidewall 30. Between the pivot pin 160 and itsfree end, the anvil arm 158 carries an adjustable spring retainer 162; apreloaded, heavy duty compression spring 164 is mounted in compressionbetween a retainer 162 and a fixed block 166 secured to the casingsidewall 30. Between the pivot pin 160 and the retainer 162 the anvilarm 158 is pivoted to a connecting link 168 which has a loose fittingconnection with a pivot pin 170 intermediately carried between the endsof a lower knife arm 1172. One end of the knife arm 172 is pivoted tothe fixed block 1133 by a pivot pin 174; the other end of the knife arm172 projects through a suitable slot 176 in the easing front wall 23.Between the pivot pin i173 and the free end of the knife arm 172, theknife arm 172 carries a knife blade 175 which projects upwardly to severthe connections between adjacent fastener elements 113 as will beexplained more fully hereinafter. The free end of the anvil arm 153carries an adjustable actuating stem 1173 so that clockwise movement ofthe an '1 arm 153 about its pivot pin 133 will cause operation ofacontrol device by the actuating stem 173.

The control system for operating the mechanisms of the snap fastenerattaching machine may be of any suitable type such as electric,electromechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic systems. The presentembodiment of this invention utilizes a pneumatic control system andonly those parts necessary for an understanding of the invention arebeing described for the sake of brevity. For example, a pneumatic sourceof air pressure is supplied through inlet 203 to a pneumatic relaycontrol, indicated generally at 232. While the system may be initiatedautomatically as in any other type of automated machinery, it may bealso started manually as by a linkage 234 leading to a foot pedal (notshown). The relay control 202 is provided with a pair of fittings,having flexible tubes 236 and 233 connected to opposite ends of the aircylinder 34 for actuation thereof. A second pair of fittings 213 and 212from the pneumatic relay 232 are connected to a pneumatic switch 214which functions as a control device for terminating operation at the endof the cycle. This end of cycle relay 2114 has a pivoted operator 216which is actuated by the stern 1173 on the anvil arm 1153 as it ispivoted clockwise at the end of each cycle.

The actuating lever 216 may also be operated manually at any time bymeans of a plate 221, having a ledge 225, which will actuate lever 216.Plate 221 is slideably carried between casing sidewalls 30 and bearingplate 220. A coil spring 224 is mounted in tension with one end attachedto pin 222 and its opposite end attached to retainer 226 intermediatelydisposed between the ends of a roller bar 223. One end of the roller bar223 is pivotally mounted on plate 221 by means of a pivot pin 233 whileits other end carries a roller element 232 which rests in valley 223 ofthe cam surface in plate 220, which determines the neutral position.Movement is imparted to the plate 221 and the roller 232 by the terminus234 of a manual lever which has a push-type handle 2316 on its other endextending through the casing front wall 23.

in the following description of a sequence of operation of the snapfastener attaching machine, reference is being made to Figs. 6 through10, inclusive, as being representative of the sequential steps ofoperation. However, it is to be understood that a complete cycle of themachine is performed in such a rapid manner that the various steps ofoperation illustrated in the drawings would not necessarily be visibleto a viewer.

It is also to be understood that various types of plastic snap fastenerelements may be utilized with the machine of the present invention.Accordingly, while the present description relates to snap fastenerelements having a base 13 and a socket 23 with the material clampedtherebetween, the cooperating part of such a snap fastener device wouldbe attached by a second machine and would include the same common base113 but the socket 23 would be replaced with a snap fastener stud (notshown), Thus a complete snap fastener device includes a base element 13joined to a socket element as the first unit, and a base element 13joined to a stud element as the second unit. in such an arrangement, thebase 113 and the socket 23 form the female unit while the base 13 andthe stud form the male unit of the complete fastener device. For a morecomplete description of the type of fastener elements that may beutilized in the present invention reference is made to copendingapplication Serial No. 868,544 filed Oct. 22, 1969 by Alfred E. Carlileand Bernard H. Cox, assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention and entitled Molded Plastic Snap Fastener and Strip ofComponents Therefor. Another example of such snap fasteners is found inUS. Pat. No. 3,401,434.

The ready condition of the machine is represented by Fig. 6. In thiscondition, the cylinder 34 is displaced from the trun nion block 33 andthe coil spring 44 on the shaft 36 is compressed. The piston shaft 43extending from the other end of the air cylinder 34 is at its minumumextension whereby the toggle mechanism is in its unactuated conditionwith the ram 143 located in its uppermost condition. In addition, thecylinder 34 has not yet been moved so the bar 72 is in engagement withthe pin 1132 which retains the lever 134 in its ex treme clockwiseposition; the upper feed arm 1133 is thus placed in a ready condition.

After placing the material between the ram head 153 and the anvil s,operation is commenced with movement of the linkage 234 as by a footpedal, whereupon the pneumatic relay supplies pressurized air to thecylinder 34 which is initially moved along its longitudinal axis againstthe trunnion block 33. The operating mechanisms are now moved to theirpositions as illustrated in Fig. 7 which dififers from Fig. 6 only inthat longitudinal movement of cylinder 34 and its bar 72 permitscounterclockwise movement of the lever 1134 by the tension spring 1123until the lever 134 engages the stop member Till. The feed arm 1133,which is normally biased by its tension spring 1113 in such a mannerthat its grippers 1113 (Fig. 3) are disposed against the edges of snapfastener elements 113, causes the fastener elements 113 to be advancedas is shown in Fig. 4. A spring ratchet member (not shown) preventswithdrawal of fastener elements 113 and aids in positioning element 113in its proper position.

As the pneumatic relay 202 increases the airflow in the cylinder 34, thepiston shaft commences its extending movement as shown in Fig. 3. Sincethe upper toggle link 52 is fixed on pivot pin 56, the toggle mechanismbegins its downward movement. The ram head 153 is thus moving downwardlyand as is apparent from comparing Figs. 7 and 3, the cylinder 34 ispivoting clockwise about the trunnion pin 40. Fig. 3 merely representsthe position of the components during their movement and the onlyoperation taking place is the lower feeding mechanism. The downwardmovement of bar 72 causes lever 73 and lever arm 30 to likewise movedownward in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 34; suchmovement continues until lever arm 33 engages the stop member 35 andtransfers the pivot screw 73 from an upper to a lower plane relative tothe plane of pivot 34. During such movement, the lever 32 is permittedto pivot counterclockwise about the fixed pivot 34 because of thetension spring 33. As a result, the lower feed arm 33 moves in thechannel box 32 causing the grippers 33 to advance the snap fastenerstrip 23.

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 3 in illustrating an intermediate stage of theoperation. Thus, in Fig. 9 the toggle links 52 and 66 have not yetreached their full extension and the ram end is only slightly away fromperforming the clamping operation.

Full extension of the piston shaft 46 is shown in Fig. 13 as fullyextending the toggle links 52 and 36 causing completion of the stroke ofthe ram 143. At this time the plunger 146 moves the upper knife blade1132 completely to sever the connections between adjacent snap fasteners20. The rarn end 153 carries a previously severed fastener 23 againstthe fastener 13 on the anvil 156 whereby the two fastener elements arecinched together with the material therebetween. Upon initial impact bythe ram end 153, the prongs (Fig. 5) on the fastener element 20 aresqueezed through the material without destroying the material. Thissqueezing through effect is obtained by the preloaded or spring pressedanvil arm 153 which is then pivoted by the impact force against the coilspring 1134. As soon as the impact force overcomes the preload springforce, the four prongs of the fastener element 23 are deformed or coldflowed in aligned bores on the fastener element 13.

The pivot movement of the anvil arm 1153 causes the link M3 and theknife arm 172 to move upward whereby the lower knife blade 175 seversthe connections between adjacent fastener elements 18. This pivotalmovement also causes the activator stem 178 to pivot the lever 216whereby the pneumatic switch 214 ends the cycle and exhausts the aircylinder 34. The cylinder 34 then returns to its initial position asshown in Fig. 6. During such return movement the upper and lower feedarms 108 and 90 are retracted and slightly pivoted permitting thesloping edges of the grippers 118 and 98, respectively, to ride over thefastener elements and 18, respectively.

It should be understood that the apparatus of this invention describedhereinabove is applicable to all fastener attaching machines and isparticularly applicable to those machines that are to attach a pluralityof fasteners spaced closely adjacent to each other in a singleoperation. Also, this invention is not limited to a multiple fastenerattaching operation, but would specifically include apparatus forattaching a single snap fastener element.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for severing snap fastening elements from a pair of spacedstrips and attaching the snap fastener elements to a materialcomprising:

guide spring means adapted to support one of said fastener elements,

anvil means adapted to support another of said fastener elements inspaced relation to the said one fastener element, ram means oppositelydisposed to said anvil means for movement thereagainst,

cutting means adapted to sever each fastener element from its strip,said ram means including a portion for moving said cutting means,

advancing means adapted to move each strip into position for severing bysaid cutting means and to advance the severed fastener elements to saidrarn means and said anvil means,

lever means connected to said advancing means for movement thereof,

actuator means connected to said lever means to effect movement of saidadvancing means, and

means defining an operative connection between said actuator means andsaid ram means whereby movement of said ram means and said advancingmeans are effected by the same actuator means.

2. A snap fastener attaching machine comprising:

clamping means adapted to clamp a pair of fastener elements to amaterial,

cutting means for severing the fastener elements from strips,

feeding means adapted to move the fastener elements into positions foroperation by said cutting means and said clamping means,

said clamping means including a portion for operating said cuttingmeans,

linkage means connected to said feeding means for moving the same, and

single actuator means operatively connected to both of said linkagemeans and said clamping means whereby feeding, cutting and clampingoperations are performed in response to actuation of said singleactuator means.

3. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 1 wherein saidsingle actuator means includes a cylinder and a piston shaft slidablyextending from said cylinder, and wherein means defining an operativeconnection is between said piston shaft and said clamping means.

4. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 2 wherein saidcylinder is movable mounted and wherein said linkage means is connectedto said cylinder for movement thereby.

5. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 3 wherein saidoperative connection includes a toggle mechanism pivotally connected tosaid piston shaft.

6. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 5 wherein saidtoggle mechanism includes a pair of links having adjacent ends pivotedtogether, means defining a pivotal mount for the other end of one ofsaid links, and a piuotal connection for the other end of the other oneof said links whereby the same is pivotally connected to said clampingmeans.

7. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 6 wherein saidclamping means includes a ram slidahle disposed in a channel and saidpivotal connection is located at one end of said ram whereby the ram ismoved in response to movement of said toggle mechanism.

8. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 7 wherein saidpivotal mount for said one link includes adjustment means whereby thestroke of said ram is selectively varied.

9. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said anvil means includes ananvil arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, an anvil mounted onone end of said anvil arm, and spring means engaging said anvil arm topreload the same.

10. A machine as recited in claim 9 wherein a cycle terminating actuatoris mounted on the other end of said anvil arm.

11. A machine as recited in claim 9 wherein said cutting means includesa knife blade for each of said strips and a knife arm for one of saidknife blades is disposed adjacent said anvil arm, and wherein a linkextends between said anvil arm and said knife arm to actuate said oneknife blade in response to pivotal movement of said anvil arm.

12. A machine as recited in claim 1 I wherein said knife arm has amanual operator to operate said one knife blade manually.

13. A machine as recited in claim 11 wherein the other of said knifeblades is disposed adjacent said ram means and wherein said portion onsaid ram means includes a plunger to actuate said other knife blade inresponse to movement of said ram means.

14. A machine as recited in claim 13 wherein a manual lever isoperatively connected to said other knife blade to operate the samemanually.

15. A machine as recited in claim 11 wherein said advancing meansincludes a feed arm for each of said strips, and wherein said levermeans includes a linkage connected between one of said feed arms andsaid actuator means, and a pivoted lever between the other of said feedarms and said actuator means.

16. A machine as recited in claim 15 wherein said actuator meansincludes a cylinder and a piston shaft slidably extending from saidcylinder, mounting means for said cylinder permitting axial and pivotalmovement thereof, and wherein said linkage is connected to said cylinderfor movement thereby.

17. A machine as recited in claim 16 wherein said cylinder includes afixed bar element actuating the pivotal lever on the said other feedarm.

18. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said ram means includes aram slidably disposed in a channel, and wherein said operativeconnection includes a toggle mechanism pivotally connected between saidpiston shaft and said ram.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3.612.381Dated October 1221971 lnven fl Erich A. Schmidt It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 7, line 64-, in claim 3, the dependency reference readingclaim "1" should read claim 2 In column 8, line 2, in claim 4, thedependency reference reading claim "2" should read claim 3 Signed andsealed this 26th day of September 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR ROBERT GOTTSCHA LK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents ORM Po-1050 [1069) USCOMM-DC scam-P69 U 5, GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE 1969 D355-334

1. A machine for severing snap fastening elements from a pair of spaced strips and attaching the snap fastener elements to a material comprising: guide spring means adapted to support one of said fastener elements, anvil means adapted to support another of said fastener elements in spaced relation to the said one fastener element, ram means oppositely disposed to said anvil means for movement thereagainst, cutting means adapted to sever each fastener element from its strip, said ram means including a portion for moving said cutting means, advancing means adapted to move each strip into position for severing by said cutting means and to advance the severed fastener elements to said ram means and said anvil means, levEr means connected to said advancing means for movement thereof, actuator means connected to said lever means to effect movement of said advancing means, and means defining an operative connection between said actuator means and said ram means whereby movement of said ram means and said advancing means are effected by the same actuator means.
 2. A snap fastener attaching machine comprising: clamping means adapted to clamp a pair of fastener elements to a material, cutting means for severing the fastener elements from strips, feeding means adapted to move the fastener elements into positions for operation by said cutting means and said clamping means, said clamping means including a portion for operating said cutting means, linkage means connected to said feeding means for moving the same, and single actuator means operatively connected to both of said linkage means and said clamping means whereby feeding, cutting and clamping operations are performed in response to actuation of said single actuator means.
 3. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said single actuator means includes a cylinder and a piston shaft slidably extending from said cylinder, and wherein means defining an operative connection is between said piston shaft and said clamping means.
 4. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said cylinder is movable mounted and wherein said linkage means is connected to said cylinder for movement thereby.
 5. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said operative connection includes a toggle mechanism pivotally connected to said piston shaft.
 6. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said toggle mechanism includes a pair of links having adjacent ends pivoted together, means defining a pivotal mount for the other end of one of said links, and a pivotal connection for the other end of the other one of said links whereby the same is pivotally connected to said clamping means.
 7. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 6 wherein said clamping means includes a ram slidable disposed in a channel and said pivotal connection is located at one end of said ram whereby the ram is moved in response to movement of said toggle mechanism.
 8. A snap fastener attaching machine as recited in claim 7 wherein said pivotal mount for said one link includes adjustment means whereby the stroke of said ram is selectively varied.
 9. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said anvil means includes an anvil arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, an anvil mounted on one end of said anvil arm, and spring means engaging said anvil arm to preload the same.
 10. A machine as recited in claim 9 wherein a cycle terminating actuator is mounted on the other end of said anvil arm.
 11. A machine as recited in claim 9 wherein said cutting means includes a knife blade for each of said strips and a knife arm for one of said knife blades is disposed adjacent said anvil arm, and wherein a link extends between said anvil arm and said knife arm to actuate said one knife blade in response to pivotal movement of said anvil arm.
 12. A machine as recited in claim 11 wherein said knife arm has a manual operator to operate said one knife blade manually.
 13. A machine as recited in claim 11 wherein the other of said knife blades is disposed adjacent said ram means and wherein said portion on said ram means includes a plunger to actuate said other knife blade in response to movement of said ram means.
 14. A machine as recited in claim 13 wherein a manual lever is operatively connected to said other knife blade to operate the same manually.
 15. A machine as recited in claim 11 wherein said advancing means includes a feed arm for each of said strips, and wherein said lever means includes a linkage connected between one of said feed arms and said actuator means, and a pivoted lever between the other of said feed arms and said actuator means.
 16. A machine as recited in claim 15 wherein said actuator means includes a cylinder and a piston shaft slidably extending from said cylinder, mounting means for said cylinder permitting axial and pivotal movement thereof, and wherein said linkage is connected to said cylinder for movement thereby.
 17. A machine as recited in claim 16 wherein said cylinder includes a fixed bar element actuating the pivotal lever on the said other feed arm.
 18. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said ram means includes a ram slidably disposed in a channel, and wherein said operative connection includes a toggle mechanism pivotally connected between said piston shaft and said ram. 